Steam iron



Feb. 29, 1944. R EDWARDS 2,342,653

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Feb. 29, 1944. R. H. EDWARDS STEAM IRON Filed May 22, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l y \J l Ga lNvENToR F ROY H. EDWARDS WTNESSESI Patented Feb. 29, 1944 STEAM IRON Roy H. Edwards, Mansileld, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric t Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 22, 1942, Serial No.l 444,115

10 Claims.

This invention relates to steam irons and particularly to that class of steam irons which are thermostatically controlled and include a. valvecontrolled water supply for feeding water at a predetermined rate to a steam generator provided in the iron, and it has for an object to provide an improved steam iron of the character set forth.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved construction of steam iron in which the rate of water ilow to the steam generator and the soleplate temperature are selected by a single manually adjusted means.

In the copending application of Kenneth L. Woodman, Serial No. 382,305, filed March 8, i941, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, there is disclosed a steam iron in which the rate of water flow is selected or predetermined automatically by the setting of the thermostat adjusting shaft. It is an object of the present invention to improve the steam iron disclosed in that application and to simplify its assembly.

These and other objects are effected by this invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view partly in longi-v tudinal section of an electrically heated steam iron in which the present invention has been incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the iron illustrated in Fig. l with the handle removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of a cam, locking in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1, adapted to actuate the water valve of the iron illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational View of a cam, looking in the direction of the arrow B in Fig. 1, adapted to adjust the soleplate thermostat to maintain the soleplate at a selected temperature;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, and illustrating a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the adjusting knob of the iron shown in Figs. 5 and 6. A

Referring first to the Iembodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to 4, inclusive, there is shown a steam iron, generally indicated I0. which comprises a soleplate II, a cover member I2, and a handle I3, which are secured together in any suitable manner. The interior of the cover I2 is provided with suitable partitions, such as indicated at I4, which together with the side and top walls of the cover define a liquid-storage chamber or reservoir I5. This chamber may be filled with water or other vaporlzable liquid suitable for dampening clothes through a suitable opening provided in the top of the cover, which opening is normally closed by a removable plug I6 (Fig. 2). The storage chamber may be vented in any desired manner.

The soleplate II may be of conventional outline and is preferably provided with an armored electrical heating element II embedded therein, as disclosed in the mentioned Woodman application. This heating element may be of well-known construction and comprise an outer metallic tube or sheath I8 having a coiled resistance element I9 supported in spaced, concentric relation thereto by means of highly-compacted heat-conducting, electrical-insulating material.

The heating element Il is connected to a suitable source of electrical energy by means of ccnductors 2I (Fig. 1), as well understood in the art. The heating element is connected to these conductors in series with a manually-adjusted thermostat 22 which is supported in a recess provided in the soleplate so as to be responsive to the temperature thereof.

The thermostat 22 is adjusted, to maintain the soleplate at a selected temperature, by means of a knob 23, xed to a shaft 24, journaled in bearings 25, fixed to the top of the cover I2. The knob 23 is arranged so that the upper portion thereof projects through a window 26 provided in the cover. This knob is provided with a scale 2l adapted to be read in conjunction with an index 28 iixed to the iron adjacent the window 26 for indicating the selected ironing temperature.

The rear end'of the rod 24 is provided with a cam 29 which may be fixed thereto or formed integrally therewith, which cam engages the upper end of a rod 30 operatively connected to the thermostat 22. The rod 30 is slldable in a vertical sleeve 3I which extends through the storage chamber I5 and is brazed or otherwise secured in iiuidtight manner to the upper and lower Walls thereof. l

As the shaft 24 is rotated by means of the knob 23, thecam 29 raises or lowers the rod 30 to ad? just the thermostat to maintain the soleplate at any desired temperature. The rod 30 is springbiased upwardly to maintain the same in engagement with the cam 29 and is provided with an adjusting screw 32, the head of which engages the cam 29 to aid in calibrating the thermostat. The thermostat and its adjusting mechanism is preferably arranged so that the high point 33 (Fig. 4) of the cam maintains the thermostat continuously open regardless of the temperature of the soleplate, to provide an o position for the iron.

As disclosed in the mentioned application of Kenneth L. Woodman, the heating element Il is preferably U-shaped. The soleplate is provided with a recess 34 located within the bight of the U-shaped heating element and opening on the ironing surface 35 of the soleplate. The lower end of this recess is closed by means of a removable metallic member or plug 36 which is spaced from the wall 31 of the soleplate overlying the recess to dene a steam-generating space within the soleplate. This plug is provided with a raised annular rib or baille 58 which divides the space within the soleplate into two communicating compartments 39 and du. Water from the storage chamber l is supplied Ito the circular compartment 39 within the annular baiie, as will appear hereinafter, where it is instantly iiashed into. steam. The steam thus formed news over the y bushing is received in aligned openings provided inthe lower wall it of the storage chamber and the-upper wall 3l of the soleplate. This bushing is. preferably brazed or otherwise secured in iiuidvtight relation to the wall it! and is clamped in `iiuidtight relation to the solepate by means of a nut M threaded on the lower reduced end of the bushing.

The passage 53 in the bushing connects the in= terior of the storage chamber with the interior of the steam-generator. The upper end oi' this passage ares outwardly to provide a valve seat 45 which is engageable by the lower tapered end 46 of a valve stem 57 to close the passage. The valve stem extends through and is guided for vertical movement by a sleeve d8 secured in fluidtight relation, as by brazlng, to the upper wall of the storage chamber and telescoped over the reduced upper end of the bushing B2. This sleeve is provided with suitable apertures l5 which per mit water in the storage chamber l5 to enter the passage d3 when the valve is open.

The `upper end of the valve .stem extends through a bracket 5l xed to the iron. This bracket also serves as a stop or abutment for a compression spring 52 coiled about the upper end of the valve stem. The lower end of this compression spring engages a shoulder 53 formed on The short arm 58 of the bell-crank lever is adapted to engage or be moved clear of a camV 55 carried on the forward end of the rotatable rod 26, depending on the position of the arm 55. In the full line position of the lever 5t (Fig. 2) the arm 55 thereof is clear of the cam 59 and the spring 52 maintains the water valve closed. This position of the lever is identiiied by the legend Dry on the iron. By swinging the lever to the dotted line position (Fig. 2) the arm 58 of the lever overlies the cam 59 and, depending upon the position of the cam, may be raised thereby to open the water valve. This position of the lever may be termed the steam position and is so identied by the legend Steam ``The cam 5@ is of such contour as to open the water valve any desired amount between closed position and a maximum open' position, dependsteam generator. It is to be understood that the cam 5% may be shaped to provide any change in the rate of iiow from a minimum to a maximum value as the knob 23 is turned to adjust the solethe valve stem so that the spring tends to bias the valve stem into valve-closing position to stop the flow of water from the storage chamber l5 into the steam generator.

The valve is opened and closed by means oi a bell-crank lever 5d secured to the valve stem, below the shoulder 53. The lever may be either iixed or rotatable on the valve stem. One arm of the bell-crank lever projects beyond the side of the handle i3 through a suitable slot or recess provided therein and is adapted to be manually moved between the full line position shown'in Fig. 2 and the dotted line position there shown, and is maintained in either of these positions by means of a toggle or over-center spring 56, fixed at one end to the bracket 5i and at its other end to the arm 55. Suitable stops5'i prevent the movement of the arm 55 beyond the two positions.

plate temperature. Further, the iron may be used either as a dry iron or as a steam iron without changing the setting of the knob 23 by manipulating the arm 55 of the bell-crank lever 56 to either the Dry position or the "Steam position.

In Figs. 3 and 4, the cams 55 and 25 have been shown on an enlarged scale in the position they assume when the knob 23 is set at o`." 1n each of these figures, the parts of the cams which engage the respective abutments 58 and 32 when the knob is adjusted to maintain the soleplate at a given temperature level have been identiiied by the same legends appearing on the knob itself. Thus, when the knob 23 is turned to bring the legend linenf opposite the index 28, the point on the cam 29 identified by the legend linen in Fig. 4 will overlie the screw head 32 and adjust the thermostat 22 to maintain the soleplate at a temperature. suitable for ironing linen. Similarly, this setting ci the knob 23 will bring the point of the cam 55 identified by the legend linen beneath the arm 53 to raise the valve stem sumciently to provide a rate of water flow to the steam generator suiiicient to correctly dampen linen. Y

In Figs. 3 and el, reference circles 59a and 29a, respectively, have been provided to better show the amount the valve stem is raised by the cam 55 as the knob 23 is turned from "rayon to linen and the amount the thermostat adjusting rod 35i is permitted to rise as the knob 23 is turned from the off position to the linen postion. n these iigures, curved arrows have also been applied to indicate the direction of rotation oi the cams as the knob is turned-throughout the range of adjustment from o 1 to linen in Figs. 5 and d, there is shown a slightly different embodiment of the invention in which the bell-crank lever E@ of the iron i@ may be omitted while permitting the iron to be used either as a dry iron or a steam iron, and in which the rate of water flow is automatically determined by the temperature setting oi a single control knob.

The modified iron, generally indicated 80, as in the case oi' the iron I0, includes a soleplate 6I, a cover member 62, and a handle 63 which are secured together in any suitable manner. The soleplate 6i and its heating element 64, the steam generator 65, and thermostat 66 for controlling the temperature of the soleplate may be identical with that shown in Fig. 1 and described in detail above, and therefore, a description of these parts need not be repeated. The interior of the cover 62 is also provided with partitions, such as 81, to define a water storage chamber 88. As in the case of the iron I8, water from the storage charnber 68 is supplied to the steam generator 65 under the control of a valve, which includes a stem 69 and a. valve seat 1| provided in the passage 12 extending from the storage chamber to the interior oi the steam generator.

The valve stem 89 projects through` a bushing 13 secured in iiuidtight relation to the top wall of the cover, as by brazing. The upper end of the valve stem extends to the top of the handle 83 and carries a knob 1B. The valve stern is normally biased upwardly into open position by means of a spring 15 compressed between the top wall of the cover 62 and a stop or abutment 16 fixed to the valve stem.

The thermostat operating rod 11 is also biased upwardly by means of a spring 18 compressed between the top of the guide sleeve 19 and a stop or abutment 8l xed to the operating rod. The guide sleeve is brazed or otherwise secured in uidtight relation to the upper and lower walls of the storage chamber 88.

The positions of the valve stem 69 and the thermostat operating rod 11 are determined, respectively, by means of a pair of cams 82 and 83. These cams, which are disc shaped, are carried by and rotatable with a vertical shaft 84 journaled at its lower end in a guide bearing 85, fixed to the top of the cover 62. The upper reduced end o1 this vertical' shaft is supported in a guide bracket 88, fixed to the handle. The shaft is provided with a manually adjusted knob 81, a portion of which projects through a window 89 provided in the handle.

This knob 81 carries a double or divided scale 89 as shown in Fig. 7. It will be noted that one scale is identified as a steam scale and the other as a dry scale. These scales are adapted to be read in conjunction with an index 9i provided on the handle adjacent the window 88 to indicate the temperature for which the thermostat has been adjusted. The scales may be graduated in any desirable manner, as, for example, in types of may terial to be pressed or steamed when the soleplate is at the temperature selected.

. The lower, disc-like cam 83 which engages the stop 8l carried by the thermostat operating rod 11, is shaped to have a-low point 92 and a high point 93 which are diametrically opposite each other. When the knob 81 is turned to bring the low point 92 over the stop 8|, the thermostat operating rod 11 is depressed sufiiciently to maintain the switch of the thermostat 66 continuously open and thereby provide an "off position for the iron. The high point 93 of the cam 83 represents the maximum height to which the thermostat operating rod 11 can be raised by the spring 18 and iixes the maximum temperature setting of the thermostat.

Between the high point 93 and the low point 92 of the cam 83, the surface of the cam is designed to gradually depress the stop 8l to provide an infinite number of positions of adjustment of the thermostat between its maximum high temperature setting and its off position. Each hali of the cam between the high and the low points is shaped the same so thatthe thermostat is adjustable between maximum high and olf through one-half a turn of the adjusting knob 81.

The upper cam 82, which engages the stop 16 to adjust the water valve, is shaped so that through approximately one of these one-half turns of the adjusting knob 81 the cam maintains the valve closed. In Fig. 5 the iron is shown adjusted to maintain the soleplate at a temperature substantially midway between the maximum high and the off position while holding the valve closed. With the iron in this condition, the dry scale will be visible through the window 88 and the operator can readily ascertain that the iron is conditioned to be used only as a dry iron.

The second half of the cam 82 is shaped to provide a high point 94. When knob 81 is turned to bring the high point 94 of cam 82 over the stop 18, the valve is open to its maximum value.

IThe cams 92 and 83 are arranged on the shnt 84 so that the high points 94 and 93 engage the stops 16 and 8i simultaneously. The second half of the cam 82 gradually decreases from the high point 94 to the low level of the other half of the cam, so that for approximately the remaining one-half turn of the knob 81 the water valve is adjusted to graduallydecrease the rate of ow of water to the steam generator' from a maximum value. This second half of the cam 82 engages the stop 'I6 of the valve at the time the steam" scale of the knob 81 is visible through the window 88.

In using the iron 88, the operator sets the knob 81 to select the correct ironing temperature for the particular material to be ironed. If the operator desires to use the iron only as a dry iron, she will use the dry scale of the knob, the water valve under this condition being maintained continuously closed by the low half of the cam 82.

Ii the operator desires to steam the clothes while ironing them, the operator uses the steam scale of the knob 81 to select the correct ironing temperature. In selecting the correct ironing temperature by means of the knob 81, it will be understood that the cam 83 is positioned so that it adjusts the thermostat to maintain the -soleplate at that temperature. When using the "steam scale, the cam 82 is simultaneously positioned to allow the water valve to open to provide the proper rate of water flow to the steam generator.

Since it may be desirable to shut off the ow of water to the steam generator while the iron is adjusted to be used as a steam iron, and since it is also necessary to stop the iiow of water to the steam generator while the iron is coming up to heat, as from room temperature, means have been provided to permit the water valve to be closed even though the cam 82 is positioned to permitthe spring l5 to raise the valve stem 59,

clear of the valve seat 1|. This means may be of any desired form but is here shown as cornprising a spring-pressed detent 95. This detent includes a small sphere mounted in the handle 63 and which is spring pressed against the side wall of a reduced portion 96 of the valve knob 14. A peripheral groove 91 provided in the reduced portion 96 is adapted to seat the detent when the water valve is in its closed position and prevent the spring 75 from raising the valve stem to open position. When it is desired to open the valve, the knob I6 may be grasped and moved upwardly to release the detent 95 from the groove N, the open position of the valve stem then being determined by the position of cam 82.

While the invention has been shown in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modiilcations without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A steam iron comprising a soleplate, means for heating said soleplate, adjustable thermostatie means for controlling the temperature of said soleplate, a-steam generator carried by said soleplate, means including a valve for supplying water` to said steam generator, said valve being adjustable to vary the rate of flow of Water to said steam generator, a shaft journaled on said iron independently of said thermostatic means and said valve, manually-operable means for rotating said shaft, a plurality of cam means carried by said shaft. said cam means being adapted to simultaneously adjust said thermostatic means and said valve on rotation of said shaft.

2. A steam iron comprising a soleplate, means for heating said soleplate, adjustable thermostatic means for controlling the temperature of said soleplate, a steam generator carried by said soleplate, means including a valve for supplying water to said steam generator, said valve being adjustable to vary the rate of iioW of water to said steam generator, a member journaled on. said iron, manually-operable means for rotating said member, a plurality of cam means carried by said member and adapted to simultaneously adjust said thermostatic means and said valve, and a manually shiftable lever movable lbetween a first position and a second position and effective to operatively connect one of said cam means to said water valve in one of said positions to adjust the same and in the other position to disconnect said cam means from said water valve.

3. A steam iron comprising a soleplate, means for heating said soleplate, adjustable thermostatic means for controlling the temperature of said soleplate, a liquid-storage chamber carried by said soleplate, a steam generator carried by said soleplate, means including a valve for conveying water from said storage chamber to said steam generator. said valve being adjustable to vary the rate of now of water therethrough, a valve-operating member, movable abutment means carried by said valve-operating member, a horizontally extending rotatable shaft journaled on said iron in spaced relation above said thermostatic means, cam means carried by said shaft and adapted to adjust said thermostatic means, second cam means carried by said shaft and adapted to adjust said valve, said abutment means being selectively movable into and out oi' engagement with said last-mentioned cam means to selectively render said second cam means effective or ineffective to adjust said valve.

a. A steam iron comprising a soleplate, means for heating said soleplate, adjustable thermostatic means for controlling the temperature of said soleplate, a steam generator carried by said soleplate` means including a valve for supplying water to said steam generator, said valve being adjustable to vary the rate of flow of water to said steam generator, a member journaled on said iron, manually-operable means for rotating said member, first and second cam means xed to said member, said first cam means being operatively associated with said thermostatic means and adapted to adjust the same through a range of adjustment during a half revolution of said member and through substantially the same range of adjustment during the remaining half revolution, the second cam means being operatively associated with said valve for adjusting the same, said second'cam means being arranged to maintain the valve closed during a half revolution of said member andto adjust said valve between closed position and a maximum open position during the remaining half revolution of said member, said rst and second cam means being iixed to said member in such a manner that said first cam means adjusts said thermostatic means through said range of adjustment during a half revolution of said member while said second cam means maintains said valve closed.

5. A steam iron comprising a soleplate, means for heating said soleplate, adjustable thermostatic means for controlling the temperature of said soleplate, said thermostatic means including a longitudinally movable rod for adjusting the same, a steam generator carried by said soleplate, means including a valve for supplying water to said steam generator, said valve including a longitudinally movable valve stem and being adjustable to vary the rate of iiow of water to said steam generator, a movable member mounted on said iron, manually operable means for moving said member, and cam means carried by said member for simultaneously moving said rod and 4 said stem longitudinally to adjust said thermostatic means and said valve on movement of said member by said manually operable means.

6. A steam iron comprising a soleplate, means for heating said soleplate, adjustable thermostatic means for controlling the temperature of said soleplate and including a vertically-extending adjusting rod, a steam generator carried by said soleplate, means including a valve for supplying water to said steam generator, said valve having a vertically-extending valve stem spaced from said adjusting rod and being adjustable to vary the rate of llow of water to said steam generator, a movable member mounted on said iron between said adjusting rod and said valve stem, means for moving said member, a pair oi' cam means carried by said member and assoelated respectively with the adjusting rod of said thermostatic means and the valve stem of said valve, said cam means being adapted to actuate said rod and said stem to simultaneously adjust said thermostatic means and said valve on movement of said member, and manually operable means for closing said valve irrespective of the adjustment of its cam means.

7. A steam iron comprising, a soleplate, means for heating said soleplate, a steam generator carried by said soleplate, means including a valve for supplying water to said steam generator, means including a cam for adjusting said valve, said cam being shaped to maintain said valve closed for approximately the first half or the range of movement of said cam and to adjust said valve from its closed position to a maximum open position through the second half of its range of movement, thermostatic means for controlling the temperature .of said soleplate, and cam means movable with said first-mentioned cam means to adjust said thermostatic means,

` said second cam means being shaped to adjust said thermostatic means through a range of adjustment during the rst half of the range of movement of said first cam means and through substantially the same range of adjustment during the second half of the range of movement of said first cam means.

8. A steam iron comprising a soleplate, means for heating said soleplate, a steam generator carried by said soleplate, means including an adjustable valve for supplying water to said steam generator, first means for adjusting said valve, said first means being movable and arranged to maintain said valve closed for an initial portion of the range of movement of said first means and to adjust the size of the opening through said valve over a second portion of its range of movement, adjustable means for controlling the temperature of said soleplate, and second means movable with said first means to adjust said temperature controlling means, said second means being arranged to adjust said temperature controlling means through a range of adjustment during the initial portion of the range of movement of said first means and through substantially the same range of adjustment during the second portion of the range of movement of said flrst means.

9. A steam iron comprising a soleplate, a cover overlying said soleplate and isecuredithereto, a handle mounted over said cover, means for heating said soleplate, adjustable means for controlling the temperature of said soleplate, a steam generator carried by said soleplate, means in luding a valve for supplying water to said s eam generator, said valve being adjustable to vary the rate of flow of water to said steam generator,

a horizontal shaft movably mounted on said iron Within said cover, means carried by said shaft for adjusting said valve, means carried by said shaft for adjusting said temperature controlling means, the means carried by said shaft being adapted to simultaneously adjust said temperature controlling means and said valve on movement of said shaft, and manually-operable means for moving said shaft to effect the simultaneous adjustment of said temperature controlling means and said valve, said cover having an open.. ing therein through which Said manually operable means is exposed for manual manipulation, said opening and manually operable means being located substantially beneath the central portion of said handle.

10. A steam iron comprising a soleplate, means for heating said soleplate, a steam generator carried by said soleplate, means including an adjustable valve for supplying water to said steam generator, first means for adjusting said valve, said first means being movable and arranged to maintain said valve closed for one portion of the range of movement of said first means and to adjust the size of the opening through said valve over another portion of its range of movement, adjustable means for controlling the temperature of said soleplate, and second means movable with said first means to adjust said temperature-controlling means, said second means being arranged to adjust said temperaturecontrolling means through a range of adjustment during said one portion of the range of movement of said first means and through at least a part of the same range of adjustment during said other portion of the range of movement of saidcfirst means.

ROY H. EDWARDS. 

